Yeongyang County Launches New Market Development in North America

Implementation of This Year's Processed Agricultural Food Export Competitiveness Enhancement Support Project

Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province launched overseas promotional activities for local agricultural specialty products in Canada from May 16 to May 23, aiming to pioneer new markets in North America.

Yeongyang County has taken its first step toward developing the North American overseas market.

The project to support the enhancement of export competitiveness for processed agricultural foods was selected as a provincial-funded project last year and is being implemented this year. It focuses on expanding exports of processed agricultural foods by supporting overseas market development and export equipment.

Since 2014, Yeongyang County has contributed to the globalization of Yeongyang chili peppers and the expansion of K-spicy flavor exports through overseas promotion and marketing activities in the LA area. This North American market development marks the first step in collaboration with the Yeongyang Chili Pepper Distribution Corporation.

Key activities in Toronto, Canada, centered around the Galleria Supermarket Thonhil, include direct sales events, overseas buyer and vendor consultations, visits to KOTRA, and local market research. These efforts aim to promote the excellence of Yeongyang chili peppers and actively pioneer the North American market.

Toronto, Canada, has a total population of 6.47 million, with about 200,000 Korean residents. Recently, the influence of K-POP has led to the active expansion of K-food. The first entry achieved sales of 50 million KRW, and the positive response from the Korean community suggests a bright outlook for future exports.

Choi Hyeondong, CEO of Yeongyang Chili Pepper Distribution Corporation, stated, "Expanding the localization of agricultural specialty products through overseas market development is very important, and we will make active efforts to increase the export of high-quality chili peppers."

County Governor Oh Dochang said, "Overseas promotion and marketing activities for the globalization of Yeongyang chili peppers are essential, and by actively pursuing export policies that have been neglected in the past, we will establish Yeongyang chili peppers as a premium brand both domestically and internationally."